Ernie Gross, 94, of Philadelphia, a Holocaust survivor, inspirational lecturer, and business entrepreneur, died Wednesday, October 11 of coronary artery disease at the Horsham Center for Jewish Life nursing home, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

He lost his parents, two brothers, a sister, and other relatives during the Holocaust. An excerpt from his obituary:

Mr. Gross survived the Holocaust in Europe in the 1940s, immigrated to the United States in 1947, and spent the last 10 years of his life speaking at schools, clubs, churches, synagogues, community centers, and elsewhere about his horrific experiences.

Mr. Gross was deported from his home in Romania to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland in 1944 when he was 15. He lied about his age, saying he was 17, to avoid being killed as too young to work, and told The Inquirer in 2012: “They said, ‘The only thing you can take with you is food for a day. And if after an hour we see you walking around, we have orders. We will shoot you.’”

Gross’ story can be found at the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center in Elkins Park. Officials from the museum said in a statement: “Ernie was one of the kindest souls. … We will continue telling his story to make sure that he lives on forever through our words and memories.”

Donations in his name may be made to the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center, 8339 Old York Road, Suite 203-205 in Elkins Park.

Ernie Gross’ obituary can be found here.

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Screengrab: CBS Philadelphia